If you head to a bar in a college town on any given night, you’re likely to see young girls scantily clad and ready for a night on the town. It doesn’t matter what the weather is outside, these young women are likely to look like they’re dressed for summer.

Why if it is below freezing are these girls not wearing a coat? Because it ruins their outfit, or so they say. But one 19-year-old is doing her best to send a different message to these teens that she used to be just like.

Alyssa Lommel was one of those teens at one point. She was a gymnast and had a bright future head of her. Then her world came crashing down one frigid night. She had started with a few drinks at home before hitting the club. Next came a night out with the girls. When the night was over, her friends dropped her off at her front door, but she never made it inside.

When she was finally found on her front steps, she was frozen to the ground. Her temperature was extremely low and blood had stopped flowing to her fingers and toes. Doctors weren’t sure that she would even survive. Alyssa says it is a miracle that she’s even here to tell her story. But she’s not the same as she used to be.

Doctors had no choice but to remove her fingers and toes due to the hypothermia. She spent 78 days in the hospital recovering and has had to learn how to do every day tasks all over again. Now Alyssa wants other young people to understand the danger of sacrificing warmth for being fashionable. She says that wearing a coat, hat, and mittens is much more important than looking “cool.”

Alyssa now works at an elementary school with at risk kids where she hopes to be an inspiration to. But she wants other teens her own age to understand how life changing one simple decision can be.

Check out the video below to learn more about Alyssa’s story and be sure to share it with your family and friends.